“!” 

In the Central chambers of the palace, Where The Crown Prince’s room was located. He was there with the same familiar face of his concubine, her features overjoyed with happiness as she looked at him with all the love in her crystal light blue eyes that she could always give without a doubt.

A loud shriek and thrill of happiness left the concubine's mouth as she smiled up at Leonardo, slightly cupping her hands on The Crown Prince's face, as she gently stroked his cheek. Soothing, calming? What else was there to embrace. Rosette – she certainly looked golden. Like a statue that radiated only the love and warmth it deemed worthy enough to share with people… hidden Beneath the cruel and heart throbbing intentions she harboured.

“What! Will her majesty! Really give me a lady-in-waiting!”

“Did The Empress? Really allow that!” 

“Leo! How did you..?”

“How -” Rossette paused for a moment as she looked at her nails as she slightly fiddled with her hands, before then continuing in her sweet voice that would make the walls of The Imperial Palace melt if it wasn't for them being made out of concrete “ How did you get The Empress Laria to agree to this!?” 

Rosette exclaimed Happily and joyfully as she looked up at Leonardo, with those Crystal Sea blue like eyes that shone brighter. A stark contrast to the thorns and deep deception and lies… that she hid behind That fake facade of hers.

“All it took?”

“The Crown Princess, she agreed to it naturally” Leaonrdo said as he looked at Rosette lovingly, before he then continued by saying “The Empress On the other hand?”

“She took.. a bit more convincing.”

“Dear? I'm sure you have no ill intentions right? Or else we'll have a problem” 

Rosette looked at him, her eyes wide with innocence, as her voice slightly stammered out.

“Ah! Yes yes! Of course Your Highness! I'm sure we will have no issues with each other”

“..”

“I love you..” Leonardo said As he brushed A strand of hair away from her face as he slightly twirled It around his fingers like a pirouette.

“Your Majesty?”

“Rose? you Know it's true.. You know I love you more than i’d ever love The Princess”

“After all, what is Her Highness to me?” Leonardo said as his eyes bore into Rosette’s soul.

“Her highness”

“Leon… I don't think i can say it”

Leonardo raised an eyebrow as he looked at Rosette. Before then saying Sternly.

“If you know what's good for yourself? You will say it?”

“So? … What Is Her Highness to me?”

“The Crown Princess? All you see her as?”

“...”

“A political Tool for you to use as a way to control the eastern regions of the Empire when you come to being an Emperor one day”

The Crown Prince, Letting out a small chuckle as he gently patted The Concubines head like she was nothing more than a dog. A pet to look after, someone to care for. Someone who The Crown Prince had deemed worthy of spending His time with due to how easy time was to talk to her and not get into stupid arguments unlike how his relationship was with The Crown Princess.

*

*

*

“Nonsense! Why should the Empress provide a lady-in-waiting for the concubine!” Countess Eliza proclaimed loudly as my other three ladies-in-waiting, murmured upon themselves. Quite displeased at the news that Empress Laria would provide A singular Lady-in-waiting for the Concubine of The Crown Prince. – Was it just to keep peace in the court? As if anything, high society would talk; The aristocratic Society? It wouldn't take lightly to this, no it would ridicule The Emperor and Empress For Their choices.

Countess Eliza, who slightly started sweating with anxiety and decided to sit down on one of the chairs nearby, seemingly overwhelmed by all the drama and frustrations that were going on with a mere concubine of a Crown Prince In the palace. Lady Beatrice, slightly fanning her superior with her fan to calm her down.

“Thank goodness Audreyn is not here. She is a fiery and quite tempermentle for a Young Lady”

“She would act unbecomingly, if she even knew what was going on..” Countess Eliza said out of frustration as she gently thanked Lady Beatrice for fanning her with her hand fan that she was holding.

I sat immobile and hadn’t said a word, and the ladies-in-waiting had given me a nervous look by this point.

“What are you going to do, Your Highness?”

“Are you really going to find her a lady-in-waiting?”

“No one stepped forward when the Emperor’s secretaries searched for one.”

I sighed, I didn't want To give her a lady-in-waiting – yet I had to abide by the court etiquette. I wanted there to be civil peace in The Imperial Palace, not a civil unrest between The Crown Princess and The Concubine of My Husband, The Crown Prince.. Leonardo De Von Montreal.

“...” 

“I wish I could say no...but he gave me a direct order himself…. And? It was quite hard to get Her Majesty on board with the idea.”

All the ladies had tears of indignation, but there was no other suitable way. I sighed again.

A lady-in-waiting was usually of similar or lower rank than the noblewoman she was serving, but Rosette was not a noble at all inot how she acted. Yet? By her blood she was a low-ranking noble despite being from a fallen house… In this case, it would be appropriate to find one of the fallen or the lower nobles...but that posed a problem as many of them could not get to the palace. I considered it over for another moment before turning to Countess Eliza.

“We should start looking nearby, so please send an invitation to the young ladies and women in the capital or even around the Empire?”

“Yes, Your Highness”

“Hopefully, there should be a girl out there who is willing to Serve and guide The Countess” I muttered under breath as I slightly placed a hand on my temple, rubbing it slightly as I tried to relieve The tension and anxiety I was feeling.

I can't go and bother Mother and Father-in-law, they're most likely busy managing the empire.. it would be a shame if I had to go bother them over this simple matter, but i'm sure?

“This conflict willsoon Resolve Itself – there's always a way for That” 

*

*

*

Going back into the Western palace, Rosette sat on her bed in her own chambers as she gently fiddled With the Necklace around her neck, muttering words to herself.

“Hah – I'm sure that”

“I'm sure that there's no place for Her Highness” 

“– for what? Hah”

“My efforts.. they won't be futile…” 

Incoherent words of muttering left those sweet lips of hers. Before, she then got disturbed by one of the servants coming into the room.. not even bothering to announce their presence and Showing how little respect that this concubine has in the palace.

“A tea party with all the noblewomen?”

Rossttes's eyes rounded slightly – she could never have dreamed Of being with all the high-ranking  nobles, Let alone dining with them for A tea party… She never had the chance or opportunity due to her fallen noble status that was as similar to a concubine or a slave.

“Are you sure?”

The maid who had given her the news, answered with “I told you already!” as the maid glared at her.

“It’s hosted by the Empress Laria and The Crown Princess!. You can’t even imagine how grand it is. All the ladies of the capital have been gathering in the palace for hours. The invitations were sent out yesterday.”

” ...What about Myself?”

“Ah! Even if you are not a noble, Lady Rosette, you’re still a person of His Majesty the Crown Prince… This really is a shame.” The maid lied through her teeth as she looked at The Concubine who had a slight smile plastered across her face, while She tried to show sympathy and acted quite upset at this news.

Hah ‐ is this how I'm left out? Is this how It's been planned to stun me out of society… to be stunned out of society? I should have been invited, I should have… there's no doubt about it!

Rossette's mouth turned downwards and her shoulders sagged.

“I thought so. The palace seemed to be noisy all day long…”

“So boisterous…” Rosette muttered under her breath as she looked at the maid.

“The Princess is being unfair. She skipped the banquet because of New Year’s Day, but now she’s having a party that excludes My Lady.” The maid whailed about as she looked at the Concubine, making her believe that she was on her side.

Tea parties and banquets differed in size and expectations of guests, but to Cherily and Rosette, who did not know about this, a party was a party, and to them it was unfair that Rosette was not invited.

Rosette pushed the floor with her toes and fell back onto her bed.

“I must be hated... ” she muttered under her breath, slightly too loud

“The Princess is just jealous because the Crown Prince loves you.”

“Why don’t you dress up and go to the palace, too?”

“But I wasn’t invited...?”

“It would be rude of me… if i were to go”

Rosette, slightly clapped her hands together, the clammy feeling she was used to.

“I'd be scolded by the Empress! You know it took her ages to agree for me to have a lady-in-waiting!”

“But? This is also MY home too.”

The maid turned to look at another maid who had entered the room, presumably to clean it. Taking  turns thinking up a plan, but Rosette shook her head and pulled the covers over herself. She didn't want to feel shame or embarrassment, not when her status as a fallen noble was enough.

“No. They don’t want me.”

The maids’ eyes watered sympathetically.

“Poor Lady Rosette…” The second maid said, slightly Feeling a small pang of sympathy for the concubine.. While not understanding the full context As she had just walked in.

“I'll tell you about it later” The first maid muttered to the second one as they slightly exchanged a swift nod, before then quickly leaving the Concubine alone in her chambers.